McCotter Calls it Quits After Signatures Snafu

A five-term Michigan congressman who didn't get enough valid signatures to get on the ballot says he is ending his write-in campaign for re-election.

U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter surprised everyone late last month when he announced the Michigan secretary of state's office had determined he didn't have the 1,000 valid signatures needed to get on the Aug. 7 primary ballot, even though 2,000 signatures were turned in.

A spokesman for the secretary of state has said only a couple hundred signatures appeared valid and many seemed to be copies.

McCotter, who ran for the Republican nomination for the White House, has asked for an investigation to determine what happened.

He issued a statement Saturday saying he could not cooperate with the investigation, fulfill his current duties and run a write-in campaign, so he is ending his candidacy.